Vacuum condensation pump



April 1930. A. c. DURDIN. JR 1,753,557

VACUUM CONDENSATION PUMP Filed Feb. 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 8,1930..

A. C. DURDlN. JR

VACUUM CONDENSATION PUMP Filed Feb. 25. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedApr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES AUGUSTUS C. DURDIN, JR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISVACUUM CONDENSATJlON PUMP Application filed February 23, 1928. SerialNo. 256,164.

This invention relates to vacuum condensation pumps, and its principalobject is to prevent waste of water and to prevent the burning out ofthe electric motor which is usually employed for driving the pump.

Pumps of this character are frequently employed for withdrawing water,vapors, gases and other condensates from steam heating systems andreturningthe water back to 19 the boiler or some other place.

One of the difficulties encountered in vacuum pumpingapparatus of thischaracter is that of preventing wastage of water owing to the fact thatair and gases must be separated from the water before the water isreturned to the boiler, and oftentimes during the operation of theapparatus, water escapes with the air and other gases and, consequently,becomes lost. In accordance with the 29 present invention, all of thewater is conserved, and, furthermore, the vacuum pump is relieved of theheavy duty of increasing the vacuum beyond that required for withdrawing the condensates from the steam heating system.

lVith such objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in avacuum condensation pump embodying a tank or reservoir in which thewater, air and other condensates are received, a vacuum pump and a,water pump, and means controlled by the level of the water contained inthe tank for interrupting the flow of condensates to the tank until thelevel of the water in the tank has been lowered, or, in other words,until the water pump is able to discharge surplus water from the tank asrapidly as water and other condensates enter the tank. v It furtherconsists in a vacuum condensation pump in which the inlet to the vacuumpump has a valve controlled port capable of communicating with the outeratmosphere, 1 whereby in case the liquid in the tank reaches a highlevel the vacuum in the inlet to the vacuum pump is broken, therebypermitting the pump to operate without creating any suction in thereturn pipe of the heating system. The invention further consists in theseveral novel features of construction, ar

rangement, andcombinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth andclaimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying thisspecification in which- 1 Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectiontaken through a vacuum condensation pump embodying a simple form ofthepresent invention;

i Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating a slightlymodified form of the invention; and 3 r Fig. 5 is a fragmentalverticalsection illustrating another modification of the invention. aReferringto said drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, whichillustrate a simple embodiment of the present invention, the referencecharacter-.5 designates a tank or reservoir open to the atmosphere, asthrough an air outlet port 6 in the upper end thereof. Said tank isadapted to receive water, gases and other condensates from a heatingsystem or othersteam plant, and a conduit 7 is shown through which saidwater, air and other condensates are delivered to jthetank.

A check valve 8- is usuallyemployed' in the conduit 7 which permits thefluid to flow to Ward the tank, but prevents any return of the fluidtowards the system. I In somesituations the conduit 7, may lead from areceiver, asis well understood by those skilled in the art to which thisinvention pertains, or the conduit may comprise the return pipe of asteam heating system. .7

Associated with the tank 5, and discharging into the interior thereof,is a vacuum pump 9 which has an inlet passage 1 0 communicating with theconduit 7 through a port 11, which, under normal conditions, is open,but is arranged to be closed by a valve 12 whenever the water enters thetank 5 faster than it can be dischargedtherefrom when a predeterminedhigh level therein is reached. If desired, the casing 13 of the vacuumpump may be formedintegral with the tank 5, and

the pump may be contained within the tank.

The tank and pump casing may be composed of upper and lower sections 14and 15 bolted together along a horizontal plane extending through theaxis of the pump shaft 16. This construction facilitates the assemblyand disassembly of the structure. The shaft 16 extends out through thewalls of the tank and is journaled in suitable bearing boxes 17 carriedby the walls of the tank. A suitable electric motor is provided forrotating the shaft, as is well understood. To guard against leakage,stuffing'boxes 18 are provided around the shaft at the places where theshaft passes through the tank wall.

7 As a reference, the vacuum pump is in the form o a rotary orcentrifugal pump of the hurling or throwing water type employing animpeller 19 which rotates in the chamber of the pump casing 13 andcontains the usual spiral blades andpassageways 19 extending from itsinterior to its exterior, through which passageways air andwater arethrown outward from the internal side of the impeller. Hurling orthrowing water is admitted from the tank to the water inlet side 20 ofthe pump, and separate alternately arranged passageways 21 and 22 areprovided in a cylindrical member 20 which lead from the inletpassage 10and from the'interior of the tank 5 to the interior of the impeller.

As shown, the member 20 has liquid passageways 21 therethrough leadingfrom the interior ofthe tank to the interior of the 1mpeller, andcombined air. and liquid passageways 22 leading from the inlet passage10 to the interior of the pump impeller. These'passageways are separatedby the walls of the member 20. It is understood that during the rotationof the pump impeller, hurling or throwing water enters the spiralpassageways in the impeller and is thrown outward, thereby causing apartial vacuum in the combined air and fluid passageways thus producingthe necessary vacuum for exhausting the water, air, and othercondensatesfrom the heatlng system. The casing 13 of the vacuum pump isin the form of an ordinary volute from-which the water, air and othercondensates are discharged from the vacuum pump into the interior of thetank 5.

Associated with the vacuum pump and tank is a water pump 23 which, inthe form shown, comprises a casing 24, preferably cast integral with thetank 5 and casing 13 of the vacuum pump, and an impeller 25-mounted onthe pump shaft 16. The inlet to the water pump is shown at 26 and opensfrom the interior of the tank. The water pump is of the ordinary rotaryor centrifugal type and discharges water through discharge opening 27from which the water may be conducted back to the boiler or to any otherplace where it is desired to discharge it. 7

The tank being open to the outer atmos- :videdfortemporarilyinterrupting the flow through the port 11 and into thevacuum pump whenever the liquid in the tank 5 reacheslsuch predeterminedhigh level, and,

' at the same time, establishing communication between the interior ofthe tank and the inlet passage 10 to the vacuum pump, whereby the vacuumpump will circulate water through the tank at atmospheric pressure, andconsequently the vacuum pump motor will not be subjected to injuriousworking conditions as would occur in case'it were building up anabnormal vacuum orcreating a high pressure in the tank. i

In the form of the preferredv means for accomplishing this result a port28 is provided between the inlet passage 10 to the vacuum pump and theinterior ofthe tank, which port, under normal conditions, is closed by.a valve 29. .The valves12 and 29 are preferably connected so as to movein unison, and, as shown, both valves are'mounted upon a commonvalvestem 30 and connected to one arm 31 of a bell crank leverv 32fulcrumed on arbracket secured to or. formed as a part of the castingwhich forms the tank and pump casings. Upon the other arm 33 of thelever 32 is a float 34. The valve stem 30 has a winged structure 35surrounding it which forms a slidable connection between the valves andwalls that'support them, and said winged structure permits the freepassage of fluid through the ports whenever the valves are open. V

Whenever the water in the tank is at a low level, the float occupies alow position, as in: dicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 2, and the valve29 is thereby held closed, whereas the valve 12 is held open, therebypermitting fluid to pass from the conduit 7 through the port- 11 andinlet passagelO to the vacuum pump. Whenever the liquid in'the' tankreaches a high level, the float is raised tothe position shown in fulllines in Fig. 2, and the valve 12 is thereby moved to its closedposition and the valve 29 moved to its open position, whereby thepassage of fluid from the conduit '7 to the vacuum pump is interruptedandthe passage through the port 28 from the tank and into the inletpassage 10 is opened.

In the operation of the apparatus, water, air and other condensates fromthe heating system are drawn into the vacuumpump through the port 11 andinlet passage 10 and are discharged into-the interior of the tank tank,enters the Water pump through the in take opening 26 and is dischargedthrough the discharge opening 27 to the boiler, or other place where itis desired to deliverthe water. Some of the liquid enters the vacuumpump through the water inlet side 20, as'has been explained. WVheneverthe liquid in the tank rises to a predetermined high level, the float islifted and the valve 12 is moved to its closed position and the valve 29ismoved to its open position, whereby thepassage from the conduit 7 tothe inlet opening 10 is closed and the passage from the tank 5 to theinlet passage 10 is opened.

Liquid contained in the tank above the port 28 is free to pass throughsaidport and into the inlet pasage 10 of the vacuum pump and it entersthe impeller thereof and is discharged through the 'volute back into thetank, and this operation continues so long as the level of the liquid inthe tank remains high enough to keep the valve 29 open. Inasmuch as thetank is open to the outer atmosphere, the vacuum in the inlet passage 10and vacuum pump is broken, and, consequently, it may continue to operatewithout buildmg up any abnormal vacuum, or creating pressure within thetank, or causing any abnormal strain on the pump motor itself. As soonas the water pump discharges enough water from the tank to allow thefloat to close the valve 29 and open the valve 12, the port 28 to theinlet passage 10 is closed and communication is again establishedbetween the vacuum pump and the conduit 7, whereupon suction is againcreated in the conduit and water and other condensates contained thereinare discharged into the tank.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 4, the parts aresubstant-iallythe same as those i. shown in the other figures, exceptthat the valve 29 is omitted, the valve 12 being retained as before. Inplace of the valve29, a relief valve 29 is provided which is connectedto the inlet passage 10 by a pipe 29". The

relief valve 29 is set so as to establish communication between theinlet passage 10 and the outer atmosphere Whenever the vacuum in theinlet passage exceeds that required for ex;- hausting the water, air andother condensates from the system. In this form of the inyen t-ion,whenever the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined high level, thevalve 12 is seated, thereby interrupting the flow of liquid from theconduit to the VELCUUIIIPHHIP, and when the vacuum in the inlet passageexceeds that normally required, the relief valve 29 opens, therebybreaking the vacuum in the inlet passage and vacuum pump andreliving thepump motor of any excessive labor.

It has been found that the Valve 12;may

be omitted entirely. in some situations, and that by making the port 28of sufiicient size, the Water may flow from the interior of the tankthrough the port 28 and into the inlet passage 10 freely enough toprevent the vacuum pump from creating any suction inthe return conduit 7It will be understood that the check valve 8 prevent-s the return of airand other fluid into the system.

Inthe modified form ofthe invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the inletpassage 10 leads to the vacuum pump, as inthe other forms described. Theport 28 between the inlet passage and interior ofthe tank or receptacle5 is normally closed by a valve 29 connected to a float 341by a lever32. The valve 29" remains. closed until the liquid in the tank reaches apredetermined high level and raises the float.

The conduit 7 for water, air and other condensates has a check valve 8therein and con nects with the inlet passage through a port 11, which iscontrolled by a valve 12'. On the stem 32' of the valve 12 is a plunger34 which is contained in a cylinder 35, and has a head 342 that isarranged'to seat on a seat 34 in the cylinder 35 in one position of theplunger. *When the valve 12 is seated, however, thehead 34 remainsunseated.

Leading from the end of the cylinder 35, in which the head 34 iscontained, is a vent'pipe 36 which communcates with the interior of thetank or receptacle, whereby the pressure in the cylinder 35 remains atatmospheric pressure. \Vith the vacuum pump in operation, a.

partial vacuum is created in the inlet passage 10 and consequently theplunger 34 is raised and the valve 12 unseated. The instant the plungeris raised, the head 34: seats and closes the aassages through thecylinder.

ater, airand other condensates are drawn into the vacuum pump anddischarged into the tank, and the water pump discharges the water asinthe other forms,the air escaping through the air discharge outlet. Incase,

however, water accumulates in the tankfaster than the water pump candischarge it, and, as

a consequence, raisesthe float 34, the valve 29 is unseated therebyadmitting air to the inlet passage 10 and breaking the vacuum therein.As a result thereof, the plunger 34 falls, thereby closing the valve 12'and preventing the passage of water, air and other condensates to thevacuum pump until the level of the liquid in the tank again falls belowthe high level. In this form of theapparatus, the valve 12 is controlledby variations in the pressurein the inlet passageto the vacuum ump. 7

It is apparent that when water, air and other condensates are dischargedinto the tank faster thanthe water pump'can dischargethe water from thetank when it reaches a predetermined hlghlevel, communication betweenthe vacuum pump and return conduit is interrupted and remainsinterrupted until the wa ter pump has lowered the level of the water inthe tank to a predetermined low level, dur ing which interval-the vacuumpump motor is not subjected to any undue labor, inasmuch as the vacuum.at its inlet side is broken; Moreover, while the air and gases are freeto escape from the tank, there is no danger that the water will beforced out through the air outlet opening and consequently all of thewater entering the tank is conserved.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possiblewithout departing from the spirit of this invention. I desire,therefore,'not to limit myself to the exact -form of the constructionshown and described, but intend, in the followingclaims, to point outall of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

- 1. In a' vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank, a returnconduit from which water, air, and other condensates are discharged intothe tank, a vacuum pump from which liquid is discharged into the tankand having an inlet passage in communication with said conduit,through-a port between said inlet passage and conduit, a float operatedvalve for controlling said port, and having a float controlled by .thelevel of the liquid in the tank, and a water pump having its inletcommunicating with said tank and discharging water therefrom.

2. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank, a returnconduit from Which water, air, and other condensates are discharged intothe tank, a vacuum pump from which liquid is discharged into the tankand having an inlet passage in communication with said conduit, andthere being a port between said inlet passage and tank, a float operatedvalve for controlling said port, and having a float controlled by thelevel of the liquid in the tank, and a water pump having its inletcommunicating withsaid tank and discharging water therefrom.

' In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open to theatmosphere,

a return conduitfrom which water, air and other condensates aredischarged into the tank, a vacuum pump from whichliquid is dischargedinto the tank and having an inlet passage in communication with saidconduit,

and there being a port between said inlet passage and tank, a floatoperated valve for controlling said port, and having a float controlledby the level of the liquid in the'tank, and awater pump having its inletcommunicating with said tank and discharging water therefrom. i

4. In avacuum condensation pump, the conbination'of a tank continuouslyopen to the atmosphere, a conduit from which water, air,"and othercondensates are discharged into said tank, a vacuum pump from whichliquid is discharged into the tankand having an inlet passage incommunication with said conduit and having a valve controlled inlet portbetween its inlet passage and said conduit, said inlet passage beingcapable of communicating with the outer atmosphere, said pump beingarranged to create a partial vacuum in said conduit, and a water pumphaving its inlet communicating with said tank andv discharging watertherefrom.

5. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open totheatmosphere, a return conduit fromwhich water, air and othercondensates are discharged into the tank, a vacuum pump from whichliquid is discharged into the tank and having an inlet passage leadingto saidconduit, and containing valve controlled ports, one between saidinlet passage and the conduit and one between the inlet passage andtank, float operated means having a float controlled by the level of theliquid in the tank, for simultaneously closing said port'to the conduitand opening the port to the tank, and vice versa, and a water pumphaving its inlet communicating with said tank and discharging watertherefrom. 7

6. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open to theatmosphere, a return conduit from which water, air and other condensatesare discharged into the tank, a vacuum pump contained insaid tank anddischarging thereinto, and having an inlet passage leading to saidconduit, and containing valve controlled ports, one between said inletpassage and the conduit and one be tween the inlet passage and tank,float operated means having a float controlled by the level of theliquid in the tank, for simultaneously closing the port between theconduit and inlet passage and opening the port between the inlet passageand tank, and vice versa, and a water pump having its inletcommunicating with said tank and discharging water therefrom. I

7. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open to theatmosphere, a return conduit from which water, air and othercondensatesare discharged into the tank, a hydro-turbine vacuum pump from whichliquidis discharged into the tank and having an inlet passage leading tosaid conduit, and a hurling water inlet opening to the interior of thetank, there being valve controlled ports for said inlet passage, onebetween said inlet passageand the conduit and one between the inletpassage and tank, float operated means having a float controlled by thelevel of the liquid in the tank for simultaneously closing said portbetween the conduit and inlet passage and opening the port between theinlet passage and the tank, and vice versa, and a water pump having itsinlet communicating with said tank and discharging watertherefrom.

8. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open to theatmosphere,

a return conduit from which water, air, and

other condensates are discharged into the tank, a vacuum pump from whichliquid is discharged into the tank and having an inlet passage leadingto said conduit, there being a port between said inlet passage andconduit and a port between said inlet passage and tank, float operatedvalve mechanism having a float controlled by the level of the liquid inthe tank for simultaneously closing one port and opening the other, andvice versa, and a water pump having its inlet communieating with saidtank and discharging water therefrom.

9. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank, a vacuumpump therein from which liquid is discharged into the 20 tank and havingan inlet passage communicating with a return conduit for water,

air and other condensates, there being valve controlled ports betweensaid inlet passage and between tank and said inlet passage and conduit,and float operated means having a float controlled by the level of theliquid in the tank for actuating said valves.

10. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open to theatmosphere, a vacuum pump discharging into said tank and having an inletpassage communicating with a return conduit for water, air and othercondensates, there being a valve controlled port between the inletpassage to said vacuum pump and the tank, float actuated means having afloat controlled by the level of the liquid in the tank for operatingsaid valve, and a water pump within said tank, having an inletcommunicating therewith, said pump operating to discharge water fromsaid tank.

11. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open to theatmosphere, a hydro-turbine vacuum pump therein from which liquid isdischarged into the tank and having an inlet passage communicating witha return conduit for water, air and condensates, there being valve controlled ports between said inlet passage and tank and between said inletpassage and con duit, float operated means having a float con trolled bythe level of the liquid in the tank for actuating said valves, and awater pump contained in said tank and having an inlet communicating withsaid tank, said water pump operating to discharge water therefrom. V

12. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank structureand a pump structure, the pump structure having a casing formed integralwith the tank structure a horizontal pump shaft extending out throughthe walls of said tank structure, and an impeller mounted on said pumpshaft within said casing, said tank and easing being formed oftwo'sections oined together along a horizontal plane extending throughthe axis of the pump shaft.

13. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank open to theatmosphere, a return conduit from which water, air and other condensatesare discharged into the tank,.a vacuum pump having an inlet passageleading to said conduit, there being valve controlled ports, onebetween'said inlet passage and the conduit and one between the inletpassage and tank, means controlled by the level of the liquid in thetank for simultaneously closing said port to the conduit and opening theport to the tank, and vice versa, and a water pumphaving its inletcommunicating with said tank and discharging water therefrom.

14. In a vacuum condensation pump, the

combination of a tank open to the atmosphere, a return conduit from iwhich water, air and other condensates are discharged into the tank, avacuum pump contained in said tank and discharging thereinto, and havingan inlet passage leading to said conduit, there being valve controlledports, one between said inlet passage and the conduit and one betweenthe inlet passage and tank, means at least one of which is controlled bythe level of the liquid in the tank for simultaneously closing said portto the conduit and opening the port to the inlet passage, and viceversa, and a water pump having its inlet communicating with said tankand discharging water therefrom.

15. In a: vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank, a returnconduit from which water, air and other condensates are discharged intothe tank, a vacuum pump from which liquid is discharged into the tankand having an inlet passage in communication with said conduit, througha port between said inlet passage and conduit, a valve for controllingsaid port, automatically operating means for actuating said valve, and awater pump having its inlet communicating I with said tank anddischarging water therefrom.

16. In a vacuum condensation pump, the combination of a tank, a returnconduit from which water, air, and othercondensates are discharged intothe tank, "a vacuum pump from which liquid is discharged into the tankand having an inlet passage in communication with said conduit, therebeing a Valve controlled port between said inlet passage and tank, avalve controlled port between said conduit and inlet passage andautomatically operated valve actuating mechanism at least one of whichis controlled by the level of the liquid in the tank for the valves ofboth ports, and a Water pump having its inlet communicating with saidtank and discharging water therefrom.

AUGUSTUS c. DURDIN, JR.

